Investigators said Ms. Word was driving a 2013 Nissan Maxima at a high rate of speed eastbound on the highway when she lost control.

“She came upon another vehicle,” police spokesman Capt. Steven Fore said. “She clipped the back end of the vehicle and that caused her to lose control.”

The Maxima flipped several times, ejecting Ms. Word from the vehicle, Capt. Fore said. She died at the scene, he said. Her passenger, Mr. Patterson was partially ejected and was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital where he died a short time later.

Police are still investigating how fast Ms. Word was driving and where the two were headed when the crash happened. Neither of them was wearing a seat belt, police said.

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Former police reporter for The State newspaper, Kimathi T. Lewis left her mark in print with stories that evoked community support and a column that helped capture dozens of fugitives. This award-winning reporter with a B.A. in Journalism can be reached at naturekleen@msn.com.